Mounting device



Feb. 22, 1966 1... F. SKUBIC MOUNTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21. 1964 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1966 F. SKUBIC I 3,235,917

MOUNTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. LEROY SKUBIC BYWQW United States Patent QfiFice Patented Feb. 22, 1966 3,235,917 MUUNTING DEVICE Leroy F. Skubic, 2949 Lake Shore Drive, Michigan City, Ind. Filed Aug. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 391,332 22 Claims. (CI. 20-64) The present application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Serial No. 220,399, filed August 30, 1962, now abandoned, and the invention relates to a mounting device for accurate positioning and permanent retention of a structure in operative position and particularly to a device for mounting a threshold in the most advantageous position relative to a cooperating door.

Heretofore thresholds have "been mounted by fastening means passing through the threshold and into the floor therebeneath, and even though this method of fastening has been partially satisfactory for wood floors it has not been satisfactory for mounting thresholds on concrete floors. Heretofore plugs have been positioned in the concrete floors with the expectation that such plug-s would align with the fastener receiving holes in the threshold, but this alignment has been difficult to attain even where the plug receiving holes have been made by star or power drills in marked locations. Accordingly, many thresholds have not been properly located with respect to the cooperating doors.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device which overcomes the objections of the prior art for securing a structure such as a threshold in position.

Another object is to provide a mounting device of general utility which can be located in approximate position and the structure being mounted can then be mounted in adjusted relation to the mounting device with a minimum of labor and expense for permanent installation.

A further object is to provide a concrete screed guide to obtain the correct level of the floor at the threshold location.

Another object is to provide a mounting structure made of sections to cover a wide variation of lengths while maintaining a minimum inventory.

Another object is to provide means providing adjustable height for the mounting device to accommodate for dilferent thicknesses of floors and to provide support for the mounting device so that the mounting device may also act as a screed guide structure.

A further object is to provide a threshold mounting structure which may be used in wood and concrete floors and provide positive means to secure a threshold or other building structure regardless of the arrangement of mounting holes in the threshold or other mounting structure.

Other and further objects will be apparent as the description proceeds and upon reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of a building wit-h a door over a threshold attached by the the channel mounting device of the present invention which is fixed to wood sub flooring and showing screw receiving mounting disks therein having eccentrically located threaded apertures serving as nuts for attaching machine screws passing through the threshold.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section through the mounting channel showing a machine screw receiving washer type disk therein and showing the channel anchored in a concrete floor by transverse anchoring bars.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a washer type disk with the eccentrically located threaded aperture accommodating a threshold securing machine screw in any position.

FIGURE 3A is an end view of the mounting channel with a spring held screw receiving disk in operative position.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the form of screw receiving disk washer shown in FIGURE 2 with the supporting lugs therefor.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a fragment of a mounting channel with a swaged out portion of one flange providing for insertion of the screw receiving disks without requiring access to the ends of the channel.

FIGURE 6 is a section taken substantially on line 66 of FIGURE 5 showing the method of insertion of the disks in the swaged channel when the ends are not accessib'le.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective of a closure for the ends of the channel preventing plastic concrete from entering the channel.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view illustrating how a threshold can be mounted at an angle to the mounting channel.

FIGURE 9 shows how the threshold is positioned at a different angle over the mounting channel and illustrates how the inner surface of the channel web is marked by pencil dots to facilitate locating the position of the threaded apertures of the screw receiving disks above such pencil dots.

FIGURE 10 is a transverse section taken substantially on line Iii-10 of FIGURE 9 illustrating how a pencil, punch or the like is used to make accurately located position indicating dots on the inside of the channel web.

FIGURE 11 is a plan View of a threshold with a portion broken away showing the mounting channel and illustrating lateral displacement of the threshold in parallel relation to the mounting channel.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary plan of a modified mounting channel having a cut-out in the inturned margin for insertion of the mounting disc or discs.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of the modification of FIGURE 12 showing a supporting leg arrangement to adjust the height of the channel.

FIGURE 14 is an end elevation thereof showing card board filling in the channel to exclude plastic concrete therefrom.

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of joined ends of a further modification in which a leaf section is struck out of the web of the channel to serve as the anchor for embedment in concrete with a supporting bendable U-shaped leg for adjusting the height and showing mountmg screw receiving apertures.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary plan on a reduced scale, showing a number of mounting channels assembled to increase the length for larger width door openings.

FIGURES 17 and 18 are plan and vertical sectional views of a modified mounting disc having two differently threaded holes eccentrically located providing for different threads on the threshold retaining machine screws.

Briefly the present invention comprises a channel having inturned margins on the free edges of the flanges with a plurality of circular disks each having an eccentrically located threaded opening so that such threaded opening can be positioned in any location along the length of the channel or in any position across the width of the channel between the inturned margins whereby a threshold or other structure having screw receiving apertures can be positioned over the channel and fixed in position by machine screws received in the threaded apertures of the disks. This mounting device provides for lateral and angular displacement for accurately locating and fixing the threshold in permanent position. The channel also serves as a screed guide to obtain the correct level of a concrete floor in which the channel is embedded.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a portion of a building structure having a door frame and door includes a subfloor 20 with finish flooring 21 thereon and having a channel receiving slot 22 in the finish flooring receiving a mounting channel 23 located directly beneath a conventional threshold plate 24 which threshold plate abuts the door jambs including a hinge jamb 25 of a door frame, a door 26 being pivotally supported from the hinge jamb 25.

The mounting channel 23 includes web 28, side flanges 29, 29 and inturned margins 30, 30. Within the channel a plurality of circular disks 31 of a diameter slightly less than the distance between flanges 29 and greater than the distance between the free edges of the inturned margins 3d are located for adjustable positioning. Each disk 31 is provided with a threaded aperture 32 eccentric to the center of the disk so that the outer portion of the threaded aperture 32 is substantially in alignment with the free edges of the inturned margins in its closest position to the inturned margins thereby giving maximum lateral displacement of the threaded aperture 32 while permitting unobstructed reception of threshold mounting screws 33.

The mounting channel 23 is shown secured to the wood sub-flooring 20 by wood screws 34 passing through apertures 34A in web 28 and the threshold is secured in place by the machine screws 33 passing through countersunk screw receiving apertures 35 in the threshold and threaded into the threaded apertures 32 in the circular mounting disks 31.

In FIGURE 2 the channel 23 is embedded in concrete and a plurality of transverse anchor bars 36 are embedded in the concrete floor 36A and extend beyond the flanges of the channel with their outer ends diverging from the web 28 of the channel. Such anchor bars 36 are secured in position to the web of the channel by bolts 37 which selectively use the same fastener receiving apertures 34A in the web that receive the wood screws 34 shown in FIG- URE 1, thereby making the mounting structure useful for both wood and concrete floors.

It may be necessary to place the disks 31 in position after the installation of the mounting channel 23 and to provide for this a portion of one of the flanges 29 is swaged forming a bulge 38 which receives a peripheral portion of the disks 31 so that the disks can be placed within the channel.

A bulge receiving recess 38A in finish flooring 21 and communicating with slot 22 is made to accommodate the bulge 38 in the manner shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Upon reference to FIGURE 3A a solid mounting disk 31A having a threaded aperture 32A is provided with a flat V-shaped spring 32D secured by one leg to the bottom of the disk 31A and its other leg adapted to resiliently press against the web 28 retaining the disk against the inturned margins 30, 30 so that the threaded aperture 32A will be perpendicular to web 28 and accurately receive the cooperating mounting screw 33. This V-shaped spring also assures that the disks will be retained in position even though the channel 23 is placed on a vertical wall or the like.

In FIGURE 4 the mounting disk 31B is shown as a washer having a nut 32 B secured to the under surface thereof avoiding threading the aperture through the washer. To assure that the washer 31B will always have the threaded aperture of nut 32B in perpendicular relation to the web 28 two additional feet 32C which may be nuts are secured to the under surface of the washer disk 31B.

When the channel is embedded in concrete to prevent plastic concrete from entering the ends of the channel end plates 39 having spring clips 40 are positioned with the spring clips 40 engaging the inner surfaces of the flanges 29, 29 thereby retaining the end plates in position and preventing the plastic concrete from entering the ends of the channel thereby avoiding interference of concrete in the channel with the movement of the disks 31. The channel is positioned in the concrete 36A at the correct level for the floor 36A and then serves as a screed guide for the adjacent floor 36A assuring that correct levels are maintained in the concrete adjacent the door.

After the channel 23 is fixed in position and the door is hung or the final position of the threshold is known, the threshold is placed in correct final position over the mounting channel and a pencil 41, punch or nail is placed in the screw reeciving holes 35 of the threshold and a dot 42 made on the inner surface of the channel 23 in alignment with each screw receiving hole 35 whereby the final positions of all of the screws 33 are determined. Thereafter the disks are placed in the channel so that the threaded apertures 32 thereof are immediately above the dots 42, and the threshold 24 is placed thereover with the screw receiving holes above the threaded apertures 32 and the screws inserted and turned until the threshold is securely held in position. It will be noted that the eccentric pulling action on the disks caused by the screws 33 produces a binding or locking action on the screw preventing loosening.

The mounting structure previously described is packaged in a kit by inserting the necessary number of disks 31, anchor bars 36, screws 33, bolts 37, wood screws 34, and end plates 39 within the channel 23 and closing the top and ends of the channel with a transparent adhesive tape providing a neat package for display and shipment with resulting saving in cost over other types of packaging. It will be apparent that the length of channel 23 furnished will be such as to fit or exceed the width of the door with which it is to be used whereby any excess can be cut off.

Referring more particularly to the modifications shown in FIGURES 12 to 18, inclusive, a channel mounting member 50 includes a Web 51, flanges 52, 52 and inturned margins 53, 53 with one of the inturned margins being provided with a cut out 54 adjacent each end for receiving a mounting disc 55 of a diameter less than the spacing between the flanges 52 and greater than the spacing between the adjacent edges of the inturned margins 53 thereby avoiding the bulge 38 of the prior modification so the discs 55 can be inserted into the channel adjacent either end and the channel may be cut to the proper size while retaining a cut out 54 to permit insertion of the mounting discs at all times.

A mounting disc 55 is formed of heavy gauge sheet metal with downstruck lugs 56 providing feet supporting the disc above the bottom web 51 in a manner similar to the nuts 32B, 32C in the prior modification and such disc is provided with a pair of eccentrically arranged threaded apertures 57, 58 punched through the disc as shown and threaded to receive machine screws with the threads in one aperture 57 being different from the threads in the other aperture 58 with suitable index marks to indicate the threads in the apertures. The different threads are provided for accommodating different fastening screws since different manufacturers may provide different sizes of machine screws and the present disc 55 will serve for several different sizes.

The web 51 is provided with a number of screw receiving apertures 64 for mounting in a wood support and a number of downstruck inverted dihedral portions 61 for reception in concrete to secure the mounting channel in position. However, to support the channel with the inturned edges at the proper height to serve as a screed guide, U-shaped leg arrangements 62 are formed of bendable strap iron or the like and include a central section 63 and downwardly extending legs 64, 64 and such downwardly extending legs 64 may be bent to obtain the proper height of the mounting channel from the rough floor. Such supporting leg arrangements 62 provide additional means for retaining the mounting channel in the finish layer of concrete. To assure positive anchoring effect of the leg arrangements 62, wedges 65 are driven between the downstruck dihedral angle 61 and the central section 63 of the leg arrangement thereby preventing relative shifting therebetween and also assuring a positive interlock with the concrete.

To prevent concrete from getting into the channel 50, the channel is filled with a removable filler such as corrugated cardboard 64A or the like which can be readily removed after the concrete is set. Where the length of the threshold is greater than the length provided in the standard mounting channel, several mounting channels may be secured together as shown in FIGURES and 16 by the use of a cooperating aperture 66 at each end of each flange 52 through which apertures a relatively heavy wire 67 passes and is bent over as shown at 68 thereby securing the mounting channels in assembled end-to-end abutting relation. With this arrangement it will be possible to obtain any desired length of mounting channel for doors of any width.

In FIGURE 15 the channel structure is essentially the same as that shown in FIGURES 12 to 14 and 16 but leaves 69 of substantially the same width as the dihedral angles 61 are struck out of the web 51 by being sheared on three sides to provide a free end 70 which may act as a supporting foot for positioning the mounting channel at the desired height. Leg arrangements 62 having the central section 63 and the support engaging legs 64 thereon are adapted to be wedged between the bottom surface of the web 51 and the upper slanting surface of the struck down leaf 69 for retention in proper position with the legs and the leaf 69 serving to anchor the mounting channel in fixed position in concrete. It will also be apparent that the leaf 69 can be pushed back into the plane of the web 51, thereby providing a flat bottom surface similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, permitting mounting on a flat surface by screws or the like passing through the screw receiving apertures 60.

The disc 55 and the disc 31 are preferably circular but may be multi-sided regular polygons where the number of sides are sufficiently great to give the eflect of a circular shape.

It will be apparent that changes may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the valid scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting structure for selectively locating a threshold in accurate position with respect to a door comprising an elongated channel having inturned margins on the free edges of the channel flanges, transverse bars of substantially greater length than the width of the channel for securement by their center portions to the web of the channel with the ends of the transverse bars projecting outwardly from and diverging from the web of the channel in a direction away from the inturned flanges of the channel, said web and center portions of said transverse bars being provided with registering apertures, fastening elements in said registering apertures for selectively securing the transverse bars to the channel for mounting in concrete or for accommodating fastening elements for mounting in a fastener receiving floor, a plurality of disks of a diameter greater than the spacing between the adjacent edges of the inturned margins and less than the inside spacing of the flanges of the channel freely received within the channel whereby the disks can rotate throughout a complete rotation, each of said disks being provided with a threaded aperture spaced from the periphery of the disk approximately the width of the inturned margins for receiving threshold mounting screws in any position between said inturned margins and any position between the ends of the channel.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which the ends of the channel are closed with plates which prevent plastic concrete from entering the ends.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which a flange of the channel is provided with a recess for accommodating a peripheral portion of a disk to permit insertion of a disk when the ends of the channel are closed.

4. A threshold mounting kit comprising a channel mounting member having inturned margins extending from the free edges of the flanges, and having screw receiving apertures in the web thereof, a plurality of circular disks of a diameter less than the spacing of the flanges of the channel and greater than the spacing of the adjacent edges of the inturned margins, each disk having an eccentrically located threaded screw receiving aperture, means for securely mounting the channel with respect to a threshold supporting surface, and machine screws for mounting a threshold in position over the open side of the channel, said disks and machine screws being in said channel, and a transparent material closing the open side and ends of the channel retaining the parts therein providing a package for storage and shipping.

5. The invention according to claim 4 in which a threshold is attached to the kit.

6. A device for mounting a structure comprising a channel having inturned margins extending from the free edges of the channel, means to secure said channel in operative position, a plurality of disks, each disk having major diametrical peripheral portions thereof of circular configuration and having at least one threaded machine screw receiving aperture eccentric of the centers of the circular portions, a spring mounted on each disk engaging the web of the channel urging the disk toward the inturned margins whereby said mounting device can be in any position and said disks will remain in position for accurately securing a structure.

7. A method of mounting a threshold in position comprising positioning a channel having inturned margins at the approximate location for a threshold with the inturned margins at the desired level of the floor at the threshold, placing plastic concrete adjacent the channel and using the channel as a screed guide to obtain the proper floor level, placing disks having eccentric threaded apertures with the threaded apertures at the location of mounting screws of the threshold and securing a threshold by turning screws passing through screw receiving apertures of the threshold into secure binding relation with the threaded apertures in said disks.

8. A method of mounting a threshold in position comprising positioning a channel having inturned margins with the inturned margins at the level of the floor at the threshold, placing plastic concrete adjacent the channel and using the channel as a screed guide to obtain the proper level of the floor, placing a threshold having screw receiving apertures over the channel, marking the location of the screw receiving apertures, placing disks having threaded apertures eccentrically located in each disk with such threaded apertures over the markings for the screw receiving apertures and securing the threshold with screws through the screw receiving apertures in a threshold and threaded into the disks.

9. A mounting structure comprising a channel having inturned margins on the free edges of the flanges, at least one disk of a diameter greater than the distance between the inturned margins and less than the distance between said flanges, said disk having a threaded aperture eccentric thereto, a spring on said disk urging said disk against said inturned margins, said channel being provided with a communicating recess providing for insertion of said disk in said channel.

10. A device for mounting a structure comprising a channel having an inturned margin on the free edge of each flange, at least one disk freely rotatable and longitudinally movable in said channel and having major diametrical peripheral portions thereof of circular arcuate configuration with the diameter of said circular peripheral portions being greater than the spacing between the inturned edges and less than the spacing between the flanges of the channel and having a threaded machine screw-receiving aperture eccentric of the circular peripheral portions, means to mount said disk in the channel with the threaded machine screw-receiving aperture in any position between the adjacent edges of the inturned margins whereby the structure can be securely attached to the channel, and means to attach the channel to a sup porting structure whereby said first mentioned structure such as a threshold or the like can be mounted in a desired angular'and linear position. I

11. The invention according to claim 10 in which the channel is secured to said supporting structure, and said disk is one of a plurality of disks provided in the channel and said threshold has a plurality of countersunk attaching screw-receiving apertures secured by countersunk machine screws to the disks, and thereby to the channel and to said supporting structure.

12. The invention according to claim 10 in which the channel is provided with recess means to receive the circular peripheral portion of said disk permitting insertion and removal of disks into the channel when the ends of the channel are closed.

13. The invention according to claim 12 in which means are provided adjacent each end of the channel to close the ends preventing the entrance of plastic concrete.

14. The invention according to claim 13 in which the means to support the channel on a supporting structure are outwardly extending bars.

15. A device for mounting a structure comprising a channel having an inturned margin on the free edge of each flange, at least one disk freely rotatable and longitudinally movable in said channel and having major diametrical peripheral portions thereof of generally circular configuration with the diameter of said diametrical peripheral portions being greater than the spacing between the inturned edges and less than the spacing between the flanges of the channel and having at least one threaded machine screw-receiving aperture eccentric of the diametrical peripheral portions, means to mount said disk in the channel with the threaded machine screw-receiving aperture in any position between the adjacent edges of the inturned margins whereby the structure can be securely attachedto the channel, and means to attach the channel to a supporting structure whereby said first mentioned structure such as a threshold or the like can be mounted in a desired angular position.

16. The invention according to claim 15 in which one of the inturned flanges is provided with a recess to receive a disk for insertion transversely into the channel.

17. The invention according to claim 15 in which the web of the channel is provided with longitudinal cuts providing an anchoring leaf means and such anchoring leaf means extends below the web for anchoring in concrete or the like.

18. The invention according to claim 17 in which the anchoring leaf means is a struck out portion cut away on three edges and adapted both to lie in the plane of the web or to be bent out of the plane for securement in plastic concrete.

19. The invention according to claim 15 in which a plurality of the channels are connected together in endto-end arrangement by wire-like elements passing through apertures in the flanges.

20. The invention according to claim 17 in which the anchoring leaf means is a dihedral angle.

21. The invention according to claim 17 in which a leg structure including strap material having a central section is passed between the struck out portions and the web of the channel and is wedgingly secured in fixed position providing increased stability and anchorage.

22. A mounting means comprising a disc of heavy metal of generally circular configuration, said disc being provided with downwardly struck lugs at the periphery thereof to provide supporting feet, said disc being provided with a pair of'punched apertures extending from the top to the bottom thereby having metal of the punching extending downwardly in the direction of the feet, each aperture being eccentric to the center of the disc and each aperture being threaded with a different thread.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,599 1/1917 Dow 851 2,676,680 4/1954 Kindorf 52-710 3,006,443 10/1961 Siler 18936 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

A. I. BREIER, Assistant Examiner. 

9. A MOUNTING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A CHANNEL HAVING INTURNED MARGINS ON THE FREE EDGES OF THE FLANGES, AT LEAST ONE DISK OF A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEM THE INTURNED MARGINS AND LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, SAID DISK HAVING A THREADED APERTURE ECCEN- 